Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 75

समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout

Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha

Devanagari script

अतः परं शिवाचारमादिशेदस्य देशिकः । भक्तिश्रद्धानुसारेण प्रज्ञायाश्चानुसारतः

Transliteration

ataḥ paraṃ śivācāramādiśedasya deśikaḥ | bhaktiśraddhānusāreṇa prajñāyāścānusārataḥ

Translation

Ensuite, le maître (deśika) doit l’instruire dans le Śivācāra, la discipline et les observances de Śiva, selon sa dévotion et sa foi, et aussi selon la mesure de son intelligence.

Word by Word

• अतः: thereafter/therefore
• अतः: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/अनन्तरार्थ (therefore/thereafter)

• परम्: next/further
• परम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘परम्’ = ‘अनन्तरम्’

• शिव-आचारम्: Śiva’s discipline/ritual conduct
• शिव-आचारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी): शिवस्य आचारः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आदिशेत्: should instruct/teach
• आदिशेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दिś् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: आ-

• अस्य: to/for this (disciple); of him
• अस्य: Sampradāna/Sambandha (सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• देशिकः: the teacher/preceptor
• देशिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• भक्ति-श्रद्धा-अनुसारेण: according to devotion and faith
• भक्ति-श्रद्धा-अनुसारेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास (तत्पुरुष/श्रृङ्खला): भक्ति + श्रद्धा + अनुसार; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘अनुसार’ = ‘अनुरूपता’

• प्रज्ञायाः: of (his) understanding
• प्रज्ञायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अनुसारतः: in accordance (with)
• अनुसारतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुसारतः (अव्यय; ‘अनुसार’ + तस्)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) ‘अनुसारतः’ = ‘अनुरूपेण’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights the necessity of qualified instruction (deśika) and graded discipline (Śivācāra) tailored to adhikāra—an inner ‘pilgrimage’ of conduct preceding higher rites.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru (Deśika)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches that Śiva’s path is transmitted through a competent guru and must be applied progressively—matched to the seeker’s bhakti (devotion), śraddhā (faith), and prajñā (spiritual understanding)—so practice becomes transformative rather than merely external.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Śivācāra typically includes Saguna Śiva worship—such as reverent Linga-pūjā, purity, mantra-japa, and temple discipline—given in a form the devotee can truly sustain, so devotion matures into steadiness and deeper realization of Śiva as Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies guided practice under a deśika: appropriate mantra-japa (often centered on Śiva-mantras), regulated daily conduct, and graded observances; the exact rite (e.g., bhasma/Tripuṇḍra or Rudrākṣa disciplines) should be prescribed according to the disciple’s capacity and sincerity.